Major-General Gillmore:

" I understand an effort is being made by some worthy gentlemen to reconstruct a loyal State government in Florida. Florida is in your department, and it is not unlikely that you may be there in person. I have given Mr. Hay a commission of major, and sent him to you with some blank books and other blanks to aid in the reconstruction."

--Abraham Lincoln, (President, U.S.A.)

BACKGROUND TO THE BATTLE

Rumours in Washington of gathering proUnion sentiment in Florida caused Lincoln to instruct department commander MajorGeneral Quincy A. Gillmore to lead a military epedition to reclaim the state for the Union. The purpose of the expedition was four-fold, ie:

1 To procure an outlet for cotton and lumber etc.
2 To cut off one source of the enemy's commissary stores.
3 To obtain recruits for the negro regiments.
4 "To inaugurate measures for the speedy restoration of Florida to her allegiance," etc.

Accordingly, Gillmore ordered BrigadierGeneral Truman Seymour to land his divsion on the east coast of Florida. Protection was to be provided by five gunboats under the command of Admiral Dahlgren.

Jumbo Maps

No opposition was met as Truman landed his 7,000 troops at Jacksonville on 7th February. Cavalrymen under the comand of Colonel G.V. Henry were sent out ahead to screen the advance as the Union infantry and artillery marched on Baldwin. More cavalry protected the flanks and rear of the column. Skirmishers between Rebel outposts and the Union troopers took place outside of Jacksonville and again at Ten Mile Run. Five Rebel guns were captured. On the 9th, having covered twenty miles, Truman's column reached the important railroad junction of Fernandina-Cedar Keys and Jacksonville-Tallahassee at Balwin. Here, half a million dollars worth of supplies were siezed. This constituted a major disaster for local Southern forces.

On the 10th the Union cavalry again fought a skirmish at Barber's Plantation losing three killed and eleven wounded. By this time the Confederates were beginning to mass their scattered forces at Lake City. So far the available force consisted of 490 infantry, 110 cavalry and two guns under the command of Brigadier-General J. Finegan. With the Union advance-guard only three miles away the situation looked grim for the Rebels. Troops were called in from Georgia and middle-Florida but these would take a few more days to arrive. On the 10th, 150 troopers of the 2nd Florida Cavalry were forced to withdraw from McGirt's Creek but next day ambushed the Union cavalry at the South Fork of the St. Mary's River. By the 13th Confederate strength had built up to 4,600 infantry, 600 cavalry and three batteries totalling 12 guns. Finegan moved his force thirteen miles east from Lake City to Olustee Station and entrenched his position.

Meanwhile Gillmore had returned to his base at Hilton Head from Jacksonville, from where he made a proclaimation announcing his occupancy of Florida, calling on the people to take the oath of allegiance to the

United States. Ironically, Seymour's position was becoming more precarious. The railroad had been relied upon for transportation of supplies but the one engine had broken down. He advised a withdrawal to Jacksonville and that the desire of Florida to come back into the Union was a delusion. Gillmore advised him not to move on Lake City and risk a repulse but offered him no practical alternative. Having obtained reliable information about the Confederate strength, Seymour resolved to go ahead with the original plan and marched on Lake City. Union cavalry set out to destroy the railroad bridge across the Suwannee River. By the 17th, the Federals were concentrated at Sanderson's Station on the St. Mary's River.

Early on the morning of the 20th February, Seymour began the advance on the Confederate position at Ocean Pond, 18 miles away. One regiment, 55th Massachussetts (a coloured regiment) was left as camp guard. This left 5,500 men plus sixteen guns for the attack. The Federals marched in two columns. One took the Sandy Road, the other followed the rail tracks. Colonel Henry's mounted troops accompanied by a battery of horse artillery, led the advance.

Finegan, sent forward Colonel Smith's cavalry supported by the greenhorn 64th Georgia and two companies of the 32nd. He proposed to draw the Federals on to his works at Olustee Station but then thought better of the idea. He reasoned that Seymour would not attack his position but turn it. He therefore reinforced his advance elements with three more regiments and 2 guns of Gamble's Forida Light Artillery Battery under Brigadier-General A.H. Colquitt

About two miles from Olustee, Colquitt found the enemy advancing rapidly. The 64th Georgia had formed square to resist cavalry and the Federals were bringing up their horse artillery to rip it apart.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE

Colquitt acted fast and sent skirmishers forward against the guns which were being deployed in the centre of the Union line. The 64th was put into line with his own three regiments and a section of artillery amongst the scattered pines. The 7th Connecticut deployed in extended line, gave a good account of itself with its Spencer repeating carbines but unsupported, it was forced to retire. As the 7th New Hampshire came up on the right in column it was raked by a devastating volley causing the regiment to break up with losses of 209 men. Hawley managed to rally them with some difficulty and they were put in support of the batteries in the centre of the line.

Barton's brigade arrived and deployed on the right whilst Montgomery supported the left where the 8th United States Coloured Troops were being decimated, losing over 300 out of 550 men. The Union line was gradually pushed back as further Confederate reinforcements arrived under Harrison which held the centre of the line whilst Colquitt's three regiments and the 64th Georgia were resupplied with ammunition brought by staff officers and orderlies riding back and forth from a railcar that had been brought up. The 6th and 32nd Georgia, their ammunition replenished, advanced at an angle taking the Union line in the right flank. Then the whole Rebel line charged as dusk fell. It was more than the Federals could stand and their compact line disintegrated.

The victorious Rebels followed the Federals as far as the St. Mary's River but the Confederate cavalry was not commited to the pursuit. Henry's cavalry and the 7th Connecticut covered the retreat of the army which did not stop until the Federals reached Jacksonville.

The Confederate victory was absolute. Their losses were 93 killed, 847 wounded and 6 missing - a total of 946 out of 5,400 engaged. Federal losses were 203 killed, 1,152 wounded and 506 missing - a total of 1,861 out of 5,500 engaged. The Rebels also captured six cannon, 1,600 small arms and 130,000 rounds of ammunition. So complete was the Rebel victory that the Federals did not dare venture inland again.

Ocean Pond The Battle of Olustee, Florida: 20th February, 1864

Background
Wargame Notes and Rules
Order of Battle and Map